5 Things That Need to Happen at WrestleMania Backlash

The first post-WrestleMania pay-per-view for WWE takes place this Sunday. Backlash, or WrestleMania Backlash, offers an opportunity for fresh feuds in this new wrestling season, sort of. In actuality, there are still some loose ends from last month that still need resolution, hence the need for keeping “WrestleMania” in the title. Don’t worry there have been worse pay-per-view names. (looking at you Great Balls of Fire).

In the end, if these five things take place on the WrestleMania Backlash card the action this summer should be gold on the road to Summerslam.

5. Mysterios win the gold

We’ve come a long way since all of the bad Mysterio drama of 2020, thank God. Now the father-son duo has the opportunity to make history by becoming the first-ever father-and-son tag team champions.  The Mysterio’s take on the “Dirty Dawgs” consisting of Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode, who haven’t had a memorable championship run. The champs have rarely defended the gold since dethroning the Street Profits this past January.

Meanwhile, Rey and Dominik Mysterio have stacked singles wins against the champs and the Alpha Academy in recent weeks. It’s time to pull the trigger and let a different team be the face of SmackDown’s tag division. This could be the shot in the arm the Dirty Dawgs need as well because they’re better off chasing the gold. Rey Mysterio makes history yet again, this time with his baby boy.

4. Clean finish for Big E vs Apollo Crews

A rivalry that had so much potential has been destroyed by poor finishes. Fans deserve better, as do both superstars. The new Apollo Crews was already getting mixed reviews, and the lack of clean victories doesn’t help his credibility as a heel threat. It’s become predictable at this point, especially with the addition of General Azeez, who really needs more explaining as a character.

Either way, this feud needs to be over at WrestleMania Backlash and a definitive winner must be declared. Big E’s WrestleMania 37 entrance made him look like a huge star and he needs to booked like one to ascend to the “Island of Relevancy” with “The Tribal Chief”. Both of these superstars need to be booked properly moving forward to keep them interesting; that starts with the winner of this bout going over clean.

3. Tamina gets her first taste of gold

Tamina got her WrestleMania moment when she scored the pin for her and Natalya in a number one contender’s tag team turmoil match during night one of WrestleMania. Now, it’s time to give the OG some gold. One could argue that Tamina and Natalya should’ve dethroned Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler last month, but the extra time has allowed them to look more like a viable threat. Tamina debuted over a decade ago and only has a 24/7 Title reign to her name.

The writing has been on the wall for Jax and Baszler for some time now, especially with Baszler eating pins weekly as of late. Jax, on the other hand, has been on the losing end versus Tamina multiple times in recent weeks. A year ago, Tamina flirted with gold versus Bayley; at WrestleMania Backlash, a long-overdue dream should come true.

2. The Maharaja visits an old friend

Jinder Mahal is back on the Raw brand, returning after a series of injuries. Mahal was booked to look dominant over Jeff Hardy and is flanked by more muscle rather than he originally had in the Singh Brothers. Veer (formerly of NXT tag team Indus Sher) and Shanky are the new understudies to the “Modern Day Maharaja”, who has expressed his desire to reach the top of the mountain again. Consequently, an easy feud to make is one with his former 3MB partner, Drew McIntyre.

It’s clear that plans for McIntyre to regain the world title are on hold now, and this presents a way to get him away from the title picture for now. Mahal and company could take McIntyre out of Sunday’s match, leaving the contest to be decided between Braun Strowman and Bobby Lashley. The long-term storytelling is built-in with Mahal and McIntyre, which could lead to a program that lasts through most of the summer. The former jobbers-turned-WWE Champions could battle it out for respect, allowing Lashley a lengthy title run full of fresh challengers.

1. Jimmy Uso falls in line

Jimmy Uso made his return to SmackDown this past Friday after being out due to injury. During his absence, his twin brother has made quite the name for himself as a solo act. Now a decision looms after Jimmy showed his disgust for his cousin Roman Reigns’ recent actions.

The conflict has been cooking since Hell in a Cell this past October and while a brother versus brother match could be amazing, my money is on blood sticking together. Despite his problems with Reigns, Jimmy showed he wouldn’t leave his brother’s side after Cesaro’s attack.

Look for Roman’s influence to prevail and the bloodline to get even stronger after Jimmy costs Cesaro his first Universal Championship opportunity. The Usos being back at full strength keeps Reigns title run strong, and will eventually do wonders for the SmackDown tag team division. Once they turn their focus on claiming all the gold for the bloodline, the options for all three superstars are endless.